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Church Discipline
(Paper Head by L>r. W. H. Faust be ore the Winder Ministerial Asso
ciation, at Christian Church, February 7, 1016.)
The subject is one of peculiar im
portance just now In the trying
period of our state’s history when all
law and authority seems to be dis
regarded by many. * The word comes
from two Latin words: Docere, to
know' or teach, and pello, to drive or
force. The disciplined mind therefore
is the one that is properly instructed
and with the right moior power be
hind it. In other words instructed
In the right way and forced to walk
in it.
The new International Encyclo
pedia says: “It is the keynote of
military efficiency and morale, in
that without it, uniformity, organ
ized effort, and the effective work
ing of the complex machinery of a
successful military organization are
impossible.” And of all earthly or
ganizations the church is one of the
moet militant. Paul pictures its mem
bers as soldiers and Christ refers to
it in militaristic terms stating that
“The gates of hell shall not prevail
against it.”
We are living in a day when men
demand "thus saith the Lord for all
practices.” Matt. 18:15-17: “Whoso
ever f the brtohera shall trespass
against thee go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone. If he
shall hear thee thou hast gained thy
brother. But if he will not hear thee
then take with thee one or two more,
that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be estab
lished. And if he shall neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church;
but if he neglect to hear the church
let him be unto thee as a heatthen
man and publican.”
Thus the Bible clearly teaches the
value of discipline. It is of two kind
(I) formative and about this there is
n)t room in this paper; and, (2) pu
nitive, which needs to he stressed
more today than ever before in the
world’s history. In all civil and
moral, as well as ecclesiastical life,
there must be authority.
Our fathers recognized this when
in all our churches of every denomi
nation would agree to something like
Oils: “to sustain the church w'orship,
ordinances, disciplines and doctrines.
This we did once, but now worldly
views have encroached upon us until
it ift an obsolete thing to even sug
gest that the church of Almighty God
has authority enough to withdraw fel
lowti'nip from a disorderly member.
Tlu re are cases of open rebellion
against God and man, against decen
cy and good order and we of this da>
are winking at this great evil to the
hurt of sane, sound Christianity.
Tlie fraternal orders, and business
organizations have certain rules and
regulations governing their conduct
and the conduct of their employes.
Failure to live up to these regulation
brings about proceedings or severing
relationship. Even the failure to pay
dues is regarded by a member of or
ganizations as sufficient reason for
severing exclusion from
membership, but the churches have
hosts of non-contributors who by
non-attendance and non-contributing
have placed the cause of Christianity
in a bad light before the people.
Christ, the* great head of the church
militant, said while heiv on earth
with us: -If thy right hand offend
Hiee, pluck it off, for it is better for
thee to enter life maimed and halt
than t 0 be cast into outer darkness.”
It is never pleasant to discipline.
No parent ever got any great joy out
of punishing his child for wrong do
ing, but no parent ever felt that he
was doing his child justice to permit
him to go on in a course of wrong
doing without correcting him.
All over our Southland from all
the churches there is going up a cry
for better financial plans. The
Gadget system and the every member
campaign is helping solve some of
our grave st problems, but we need to
get back to headquarters and deal
with fundamentals. \\’e need to rea
lize the real value of old-fashioned
formative discipline.
Some of our tenderfeet brethren
feel that it is b st to wag along with
out a fuss in our church work. Some
time an elecrtical storm clarifies the
atmosphere and helps the situation a
regards the wilting and suffering
plants.
When a lad on my father’s farm at
certain periods of the year grape
vines were pruned. It looked bad to
cut the vines and remove the dead,
lifeless, useless vines, but it helped
the fruit in due season wonderfully.
Some of our churches really need
a backdoor revival. A general house
cleaning, when trash and plunder
and dust and dirt and scraps and nib
bish be thrown upon the scrap heap:
We have come to that point when
conscience like an angel w'ith flaming
sword needs to stand In the midst of
our congregations and cry “Divide,
Divide,” and separate the sheep from
the goats, the good from the bad;
the servants oi Dod from the servants
of the devil. When the Lord's sheep
are placed in the church and the
devil’s are placed without the fold in
the proper pasture.
Offences against public morals and
decency are being committed with
impunity. Years ago when we had
great revivals with home-talent and
churches increased and morals were
high the churches would not tolerate
dancing, card-playing, drinking, cuss
ing, lying, stealing, cheating and
back-biting. But today the church
leaders are largely those whose
names stand first in the society col
umns of our 'papers as leadens in
dances, theater parties, wine fetes
and gambling escapades. The writer
once heard of a ctiurch which had
three officials. One got drunk, an
other danced and a meeting was call
ed and the majority turned fhe mi
nority out. Even that kind of sepa
ration will put the Lord’s) sheep and
the devil’s goats where they belong—-
apart.
An old negro years ago said:
“Brtdren, turn out the bad actin’
members, ef dey is sheep dey’ll bleat
around the fol’ an’ come back, end
ef dey is goats, dey will jes stray
off furder an’ furder.”
Every member of the church shouk
be in perfect harmony with its doc‘
trineg and practices. The able man
who is in a missionary church and
contributes nothing, is a hypocrite.
Every member of a church should be
a giver or a receiver; should put Into
the common treasury or take out of
it.
You may stand up and ho’le-r “once
In grace, always in grace,” drink li
quor, stay away from church and con
tribute nothing to God’s work and
feel good over your soul, but I
wouldn’t give shucks for your chance
before the Great White Throne.
There was a bad boy in a school.
He had by his wicked course greatly
hindered the progress of the entire
student body. The wise, incoming
teacher had been warned yf him and
urged not to come to a showdown
with But the teacher the first
day that signs of wrong doing was
manifest, thraslud him soundly and
told him that if he ever offended
again he would be dismissed or ex
pelled from school, ft is useless to
say it made a man out of theboy.He
never again troubled the school.
Then there is error in doctrine
that should be disciplined first tor
matively, then correctively. It is ter
rible for a minister to have no creed,
to feel that there is as much in one
church as another. For members to
sav there is no difference and that a
man can believe anything he wants
to about any doctrines and be saved.
We need to be strictly honest. Com
mon honesty demands that an evan
gelical minister not receive pay from
his members and supported by their
money preach from the pulpit and
deny the fundamentals of the Christ
ian religion. Whatsoever a man, or
people, or nation so wet h that shall
be reaped.
For years we have sown in Geor
gia disregard for authority and law
in thy home, school, church, state
and the harvest is seen in practical
ly every newspaper and lynching and
crime that is heralded abroad. Discip
line is what we need. Of the right
kind. Gentle, but firm. Loving, yet
with justice. Fearless and without
favor. Convince if possible by loving
persuasion and then if not kindly, bu
firmly, exclude. It is time foe us to
draw a sharp line of demarcation and
like Joshua of old, say: "Whosoever
is on the Lord’s side, let him come
hither and take his stand,” for we
cannot serve God and Mammon.
We have added several new faces
job type to our plant and can make
your next order of printing look good
16, 1416.
Every Housewife in Winder and
surrounding country is invited to W.
E. Young’s Lumber House to see the
most economical and complete system
of screening Doors and Windows that
has ever been invented. Model on
hand to demonstrate to you.
February Sale
Friday and Saturday Specials
Winder sc&loc Cos.
You cannot afford to let these bargains go by. Fri
day and Saturday, February 11th and 12th.
I have a nice 40 acre farm in 20 minutes drive
with horse and buggy from Winder, on fine
graded road, good pasture, good barn and in
sight of church and school; also in sight of
Railraod Station. I will sell on any terms that
you may desire, or I will trade for anything
that is tradable. Farm already rented to
good tenant for 1916. -
W. L YOUNG
The Shingleman Winder, Georgia.
4 qt. enamel pudding pan 10c
1-2 gal. aluminum pudding pan 10c
1-2 gal. aluminum sauce pan 10c
1-2 gal. handled alum, bake pan 10c
Glass butter dishes, 20c value 10c
12 qt. enamel pudding pan 15c
3 qt. enamel coffee pot 15c
Enamel dish pan 15c
17 qt. enamel dish pan 35c
8 qt. enamel water bucket 25c
1 lb. can talcum powder 10c
25c wool socks 15c
Children’s gingham dresses
Ages 2 to 6, pink and blue 25c
Misses’ gingham dresses, ages
6 to 14, pink, blue, tan 25c
Lace curtain goods, figured draperies, dress goods, bleaching 10c
Large size lunch boxes 15c. Small lunch boxes 10c
Pencil tablets, pencil with each 5c
School crayons, 8 colors sc. Crayons, 16 colors 10c
Drinking cups 5 and 10c. Toilet soap, Armour’s 2 for 5c
Men’s 25c ties, silk or wash ties 10c
Follow the crowds to the “Home Store”
WINDER 5 & 10c Company